The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale 0135E.
The Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale 0135E is a prime example of the artistry that Vignale brought to Ferrari, and chassis number 0135E is a particularly exceptional instance. This model showcases Giovanni Michelotti’s iconic design work for Vignale, characterized by its elegant body curves, distinctive two-tone finish, open and airy roofline with slender pillars, rounded tail, and broad oval grille. The chromed slots on the front fenders and the recessed taillights are signature features of 0135E, which was originally finished in a striking black and dark red color scheme. The car was completed by Ferrari in late June 1951 and made its debut at the Paris Motor Show that October. Shortly after, it was acquired by Milanese racing driver Franco Cornacchia’s dealership, WI.PU.CO., and sold to local resident Paolo Lampugnani. The 212 Inter gained further fame when it graced the cover of the February 1952 issue of Road & Track, photographed with a fictitious Italian registration plate, TO 18511-I, while it was still in Paris. In the 1950s, the car was exported to California and offered for sale by BMC Motors of Belmont. Don Wassermann, writing in the Ferrari Club of America’s Prancing Horse in 1974, recounted his visit to see the car in 1962, noting that he had test-driven it and received a speeding ticket, which led him to reconsider the purchase. The car was subsequently bought by an unnamed individual who drove it to Kansas, where it broke down and was damaged during a towing attempt. Despite this, it eventually returned to California and was stored. In 1967, Wassermann purchased the car from storage and embarked on a meticulous restoration, originally aiming to complete it by the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1974. However, the restoration spanned nearly 30 years due to various life interruptions. In the late 1990s, a renowned Ferrari specialist acquired 0135E, and in 1999, it was sold to the notable collector Charles A. “Skeets” Dunn. After John Amette completed the restoration, the car won its class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2003 and received the Platinum Award at the Ferrari Club of America International Meeting and Concours in 2004. It further earned top honors in the Great Ferrari class at The Quail in 2009. In 2014, 0135E was added to the present owner’s esteemed collection, where it has been preserved in superb condition. Ferrari Classiche has confirmed that the car retains its original chassis, engine, and differential, though the gearbox has been replaced. The car features its original restoration details, including large Carello 424 headlights, Scintilla marker lights, a Jaeger Chronoflite dashboard, and a steering wheel with Vignale filigree spokes and an early-style “prancing horse” horn button, all meticulously recreated from period photographs. Accompanied by restoration documentation, the Ferrari Classiche Red Book, and factory build sheets, Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale 0135E remains a remarkable example of classic Ferrari craftsmanship.
Rodolfo Mailander
Rodolfo Mailander
The story of Carrozzeria Vignale represents one of the many somewhat forgotten success stories born against the backdrop of an Italy that was torn apart by the Second World War and which, starting from the end of the 1950s, was able to recover enough to know a real miracle. economical just a few years later.
